Beginning in January 2017, CFJ’s Self-Sufficiency & Empowerment Series offers clients and community members who have experienced domestic or sexual violence, abuse and trauma an opportunity to enhance their employment and life skills as they work toward greater personal and financial independence.

The series, supported by CFJ benefactors including Verizon and NBC Universal, will help clients connect to savvy experts who can help them sharpen their networking and interviewing skills along with their resumes.

These free workshops will be held at CFJ’s main headquarters in its state-of-the-art Verizon Empowerment Room. Sessions are open to current and former CFJ clients as well as clients of community partners.

The series schedule is as follows:

Employment Workshop No. 1. “Assessing Your Strengths”: Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

This workshop is an essential building block and great first step for any client beginning or currently engaged in a job search. Led by Joanne MacNeil, an educational advocate and vocational coordinator at Connecticut Renaissance, this workshop explores ways to identify personal strengths, goals and skills that can be applied to a job search. The workshop will also focus on communication skills essential to staying employed.

Employment Workshop No. 2 “Promoting Yourself”:  Thursday, Jan. 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

This workshop will be led by Mary Beth Nelsen, president and CEO of The Right Resource and board president of the Women’s Leadership Council of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Business Council. A dynamic and engaging speaker, Nelsen will lead a workshop that will focus on the importance of making a great first impression as well as the essentials of good business etiquette. Topics covered will include professional attire and conduct and the not-so-little things that can set job candidates apart such as making good eye contact and shaking hands. Also covered: How to effectively promote your strengths and accomplishments without bragging.

Employment Workshop No. 3 “The Art of Conversation”: Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Also led by Nelsen, this workshop will focus on the critical skills that can make you an exceptional workplace communicator. Participants will learn the art of office banter and more subtle, but essential skills such as the importance of asking the right questions, effective listening, confirming, clarifying and non-verbal communication. These strategies can be helpful in the workplace and beyond.

Employment Workshop No. 4 “Interviewing Skills”: Thursday, Feb. 2, 5:30 to 7:30  p.m.

Congratulations! You’ve been invited to interview for a job opening. Now what? Mary Beth Nelsen will lead the fourth workshop in our series which will focus on maximizing a candidate’s potential for getting hired once they’ve been invited to interview. Topics covered include interview presentation skills and strategies, etiquette, preparation and follow-up.

To learn more about the series and enrollment please contact Marisa Garwacki, CFJ’s Coordinator of Domestic Violence & Empowerment Services.